IDF confirms Hamas commander Rafa’a Salameh killed in Gaza raid

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in cooperation with Shin Bet, have confirmed the elimination of Rafa’a Salameh, the commander of Hamas’ Khan Yunis Brigade. This operation is a serious blow to Hamas’ military capabilities, according to an IDF statement released yesterday.

Rafa’a Salameh, one of the closest confidants of Muhammad Deif, the head of Hamas’ military wing, has been identified as one of the architects of the October 7 massacre. He has been involved in various hostile actions against Israel, including the infamous kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shilat in 2006 and his leadership role during the 2014 Gaza war.

Salameh had been a member of Hamas since the early 1990s and commanded the al-Qarara Battalion of the Khan Yunis Brigade before assuming leadership of the brigade in 2016. He succeeded Mohammed Sinwar and was actively involved in orchestrating rocket attacks on Israel and managing attack tunnels used in conflicts, including those attacked by the Israeli army during the May 2021 war.

The Israeli forces also determined that Muhammad Deif was on the scene during the attack, but confirmation of his fate has not been released at this time. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’ military structure and limit its ability to launch attacks against Israel.